BLYTHEVILLE, Ark. — A former executive assistant to the Blytheville mayor was arrested Tuesday on charges of defrauding the city through false invoices.
Felisha Bell was arraigned on charges of theft of property and forgery after allegedly securing a check that she said was to pay for repairs to her brother's car after it was damaged by potholes, The Blytheville Courier News reported.
An affidavit says Bell created a false invoice for $4,777 to repair the vehicle, then used the mayor's signature stamp and forged another employee's name on the check to cash it and keep the money.
"Auditors suspected the invoice to be fraudulent and contacted the repair facility named on the invoice," according to the document. "The facility told auditors they had not performed any work on the ... vehicle. The facility provided documents to auditors which clearly indicate the invoice was fraudulent."
According to the report, the city paid the invoice on May 22. Bell resigned and moved to Nebraska in June and now lives in Lincoln, Neb.
The report said Bell's brother told police he did not have any work done to his vehicle by the auto repair facility listed on the invoice, had no knowledge that the invoice existed and received no money from the city or from Bell. He has not been charged.
Bell blamed city Finance Director LaVera Kuykendall for the scheme and told investigators that she divided the money with Kuykendall.
Kuykendall denied the allegation and also has not been charged. She did not immediately return a message.
Mayor James Sanders told the newspaper his office is cooperating with investigators.
"Any changes we need to make, we're going to address those changes," Sanders said.
According to the affidavit, Arkansas State Police began investigating Bell in September at the request of the 2nd Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney's Office, which was notified by state auditors that they had discovered potential theft during the city's audit.